Combined joint compound bucket and tape dispenser

ABSTRACT

A combined joint compound bucket and tape dispenser comprising a cylindrical container with a removable cover. A roll of dry-wall construction tape is suspended at the top of the container beneath the cover by a rod extending through the center of the tape and engaging slots in opposite sides of the container. The container includes two slotted apertures on one side of the container and a third slotted aperture on the other side of the container. The tape is reeled from the rod, out through a first aperture, guided down along the outside of the container, back into the container at the second aperture adjacent the bottom of the container. The tape passes through mud deposited in the container and exits the container on the opposite side through the third aperture. The tape is thus coated with the mud and may be torn from the container on a serrated edge at the desired lengths. A removable guide rail is also provided to guide the tape from the first to the second apertures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the dry-wall construction art and, moreparticularly, to an improved bucket for containing joint compoundincluding means for coating and dispensing tape therefrom.

In the dry-wall construction art, it is typical to apply a coating ofjoint-compound or "mud" to tape which is used to cover the seams andjoints formed between adjoining walls of sheet-rock. It is convenient touse a container for the mud which also includes means for supporting aroll of tape, guiding the tape through the mud and dispensing it fromthe container at the desired length with the tape coated in the mud.Upon a search of the art, the following patents were discovered whichdisclose various types of such containers:

U.S. Pat. No. 3,496,909, issued to L. Bennett, Jr. on Feb. 24, 1970discloses an open trough for containment of the mud including a pair ofspaced arms extending from one side thereof between which a roll of tapeis supported. The tape is directed along the bottom of the trough andexits the opposite end thereof whereupon it is coated with the mud andmay be torn away at the desired length.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,112,225, issued to Harms on Nov. 26, 1963, discloses ahand-held tape and mud dispenser where the roll of tape is supported bya yoke attached to the bottom of a triangular-shaped mud container.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,913,522, issued to Light on Oct. 21, 1975, discloses acontainer for holding the mud and a roll of tape submerged thereinwherein the tape is directed under and around guide rods positionedbeneath the roll of tape with the coated tape extending upwardly and outof a slot in the container cover.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,876,730, issued to Moore on Mar. 10, 1959, disclosestape coating apparatus which removably attaches to the rim of a mudbucket. The apparatus comprises an elongated frame which includesportions extending into the bucket including a tape support rodsupporting a roll of tape above the bucket opening. The tape is directedto extend into the bucket along the frame and exit through a slot in theframe engaging the rim of the bucket whereupon it has been coated in themud and may be torn off at the desired length.

Other patents showing variations of the same type of apparatus are asfollows:

U.S. Pat. No.2,763,237, issued to Harris on Sep. 18, 1956.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,679,232, issued to Brown on May 25, 1954.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,023,728, issued to Ort on Mar. 6, 1962.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,342,160, issued to Weeks on Sep. 19, 1967.

It is a principle object of the present invention to provide apparatusfor holding a quantity of joint compound or "mud" (as it is referred toin the art) which includes means to support and dispense a roll of tapeat selective lengths, the tape being directed through and thereforecoated by the mud in condition for applying it to a dry-wall joint orseam.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a mud bucketand tape dispenser of the above type which is easy to handle and moveabout; prevents the mud in the bucket from drying out; and supports anddispenses the tape therefrom in an efficient manner.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a mud bucketand tape dispenser of the above type which is of simple design andconstruction and otherwise economically attractive.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the foregoing objects, the invention comprises acontainer of generally cylindrical configuration although the containermay preferably be of square or other configuration as desired. Thecontainer includes a bottom and side walls with an open top. A removablecover is also provided. A pair of diametrically opposed slots are formedin the walls of the container at the top. A roll of tape having an opencenter is slidingly mounted to a rod which is removably positioned inthe slots of the container such that the roll of tape is supported atthe center of the open top end of the container. The cover includes acooperatively formed raised portion to accommodate the upper half of theroll of tape when the cover is attached to the container.

The container further includes three slotted apertures wherethrough thetape extends to be coated in mud placed inside the container. The slotsare positioned such that the tape exits the container through a slotadjacent the top rim of the container; extends downwardly along the sideof the container and enters through a second slot formed in the sidewall adjacent the bottom of the container. The tape extends across theinside bottom of the container (and hence through mud deposited in thebucket) and exits therefrom through a third slot formed in the side wallof the container opposite the second slot. A serrated blade projectsfrom the side wall of the container immediately below the third slot sothat the coated tape may be torn therefrom at the desired length.

An arcuate guide rail is provided and may be snap fit at opposite endsthereof into grooves located immediately below and above the first andsecond slots, respectively. The tape rides over the rail as it extendsfrom the first to second slots and prevents the tape from ripping beforeit exits the container at the third slot. It is of course intended thatthe tape be fed through all three slots before any mud is deposited inthe container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mud container with cover spacedthereabove and showing a roll of tape supported at the open top with thetape extending through the three slots in the intended manner fordispensing tape coated in mud;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional, side elevational view of the container andcover and further showing the guide rail over which the tape extends asit travels from the first to second slots; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, broken-away, perspective view of the guide railshown detached from the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, there is seen in FIG. 1 a container 10 ofgenerally cylindrical configuration having a bottom wall 12 with sidewall 14 extending upwardly therefrom to form a circular open top 16.Although a cylindrical container 10 is shown and described herein, theconfiguration of container 10 may be varied as desired or required.

A removable cover 18 is provided having a raised, hollow half-moon 20 atits center to accommodate a roll of tape 22 seen at open top 16 whencover 18 is secured to container 10 as seen in FIG. 2.

Prior to depositing a quantity of dry-wall mud 24 in container 10, taperoll 22 is suspended at open top 16 by a rod 26 which is passed throughthe open center of the roll of tape 22 and engaged at opposite endsthereof in slots 28 and 30 formed on opposite sides of wall 14. Aremovable nut 27 is provided at either end of rod 26 to prevent rod 26from falling through slot 30 or 28 and into the container 10. Theleading end of tape 22 is fed through a first slotted aperture 32 formedin side wall 14 adjacent open top 16, directed downwardly along theoutside of wall 14, and inserted through a second slotted aperture 34formed below slotted aperture 32 adjacent bottom 12. Tape 22 is directedalong the inside of container 10 at bottom 12 and exits container 10 atthird slotted aperture 36 located opposite second aperture 34 in wall14.

With tape 22 fed through the three apertures 32, 34 and 36 in the mannerdescribed above, a quantity of mud 24 is deposited in container 10 andcover 18 is secured to container 10 at open top 16. Tape 22 is reeledfrom rod 26 as it is pulled from aperture 36 with a film of mud 24disposed thereon and may be torn off at any desired length. In thisrespect, a serrated, elongated blade 37 is mounted to side wall 14immediately below slotted aperture 36 to facilitate the tearing off oftape 22. Blade 37 is seen to be spaced a distance d from wall 14 suchthat the terminal end of tape 22 will project a distance from aperture36 permitting tape 22 to be easily grasped and pulled therefrom.

As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a guide rail 38 of arcuate shape is providedto removably attach to container 10. Rail 38 is seen to include sideflanges 40 and 42 wherebetween tape 22 extends as it travels fromaperture 32 to aperture 34. Rail 38 further includes two pairs of posts44 and 46 which project laterally from the top and bottom ends offlanges 40 and 42, respectively. (The posts on flange 40 are not shownin the drawings). Two pairs of retaining clips 48 and 50 are anchored toside wall 14 adjacent and below first aperture 32 and adjacent and abovesecond aperture 34, respectively, whereby posts 44 and 46 may be snapfit into retaining clips 48 and 50, respectively, as seen in FIG. 2.Rail 38 smoothly guides tape 22 from aperture 32 to aperture 34 therebysubstantially reducing breakage of tape 22 before it exits aperture 36.

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus for containing a quantity of jointcompound including means for coating and dispensing a roll of tapehaving a central opening, said apparatus comprising:a) a containerhaving a bottom wall and a side wall extending upwardly therefrom todefine an open top; b) first, second, and third slotted apertures formedin said side wall, said first slotted aperture positioned adjacent saidopen top, said second slotted aperture positioned below said firstslotted aperture adjacent said bottom wall, said third slotted aperturepositioned diametrically opposite said second slotted aperture adjacentsaid bottom wall; and c) means for rotatably supporting said roll oftape in said open top above said bottom wall and said joint compound,said tape consecutively exiting said container through said firstaperture, extending downwardly along said side wall, entering saidcontainer through said second aperture, passing through said jointcompound and exiting said container through said third aperturewhereupon said tape is coated in said joint compound.
 2. The containerof claim 1 wherein said tape support means comprises:a) first andsecond, diametrically opposed slots formed in said side wall adjacentsaid open top; and b) an elongated rod having first and second, oppositeends on which said roll of tape is slidingly and removably mountedthrough said central opening said rod first and second ends beingremovably positioned in said first and second slots, respectively. 3.The invention according to claim 2 wherein said rod includes removableportions at said first and second ends, said portions having maximumdiameters larger, than said opposed slots.
 4. The invention according toclaim 2 and further comprising a cover removably secured to saidcontainer at said open top with said roll of tape and said support meanspositioned between said cover and said bottom wall above said jointcompound.
 5. The invention according to claim 4 wherein said coverincludes a raised, hollow protrusion wherein a portion of said roll oftape fits when said cover is secured to said container.
 6. The inventionaccording to claim 5 and further comprising means for guiding said tapefrom said first to said second apertures, said guide means removablyconnected to said side wall between said first and second apertures. 7.The invention according to claim 6 wherein said guide means comprises anarcuately shaped rail having first and second ends and including firstand second, laterally spaced flanges extending from said first to saidsecond ends of said rail along opposite edges thereof and wherebetweensaid tape extends as said tape travels from said first aperture to saidsecond aperture.
 8. The invention according to claim 7 wherein saidmeans removably connecting said guide means to said side wallcomprises:a) first and second pairs of posts extending laterallyoutwardly of said rail, said first pair of posts extending in oppositedirections from outer surfaces of said first and second flanges,respectively, at said first end of said rail and said second pair ofposts extending in opposite directions from outer surfaces of said firstand second flanges, respectively, at said second end of said rail; andb) first and second pairs of retaining clips fixedly mounted to saidside wall between said first and second, slotted apertures, said firstpair of retaining clips being laterally spaced and positioned adjacentand below said first slotted aperture, said second pair of retainingclips being laterally spaced and positioned adjacent and above saidsecond slotted aperture, said first and second pairs of posts beingfrictionally removably engaged in said first and second pairs ofretaining clips, respectively.
 9. The invention according to claim 8 andfurther comprising an elongated, serrated blade mounted parallel to andspaced from said side wall adjacent said third aperture.